Investment banks join forces to recruit graduates with disabilities

Ten major investment banks have joined forces to encourage students and graduates with disabilities to consider a career in the financial sector.

Members of the Interbank Graduate Recruiters’ Diversity Forum, including Goldman Sachs, ABN Amro and Royal Bank of Scotland, took part in an event last week run by national disability charity Employment Opportunities.

More than 70 students and graduates met with forum representatives in the City and Canary Wharf, London, and took part in workshops and role plays.

A spokeswoman from Goldman Sachs said they hoped the event would raise awareness among an untapped audience.

“With the ever increasing war for talent we hope to attract new people and mirror our diverse client base,” she said.

Just 6.6% of disabled graduates took up jobs in the financial sector in 2003, according to Employment Opportunities.

Karin Pappenheim, the charity’s chief executive, said she hoped the event would encourage other sectors to take a more active approach to diversity.

“We hope to see this becoming a trend with other sectors taking up the challenge with similar enthusiasm,” she said.

Employment Opportunities is currently working with finance companies to develop summer intern programmes for young people with disabilities.